Water ski tow rope retriever



Nov. 10, 1964 H. w. JONES, JR 3,156,429

WATER SKI TOW ROPE RETRIEVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1962 E INVENTOR. HARRY W.Jo-zs, JR.

Hood, Gubt Inibh AHor-g ys Nov. 10, 1964 H. w. JONES, JR 3,156,429

WATER SKI TOW ROPE RETRIEVER Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HARRY W. JONE8,JR.

Fwd, (But *1- Inibh Affarn gs United States Patent 3,156,429 WATER SKI TOW ROPE RETRIEVER Harry W. Jones, Jr., Enterprise, Kans., assignor to The J. B. Ehrsam & Sons Manufacturing Company, Enterprise, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,828 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-865) The present invention relates to a water ski tow rope retriever, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device which, conveniently and easily, will be effective to retrieve and to store such a rope when not in use.

When a water ski rider, several yards behind the boat from which he is being towed, abandons the tow rope either intentionally or accidentally, the long, trailing rope in the water is a real hazard to swimmers and to the propeller of the towing boat, as well as to other craft. It is therefore accepted practice to retrieve such a rope as promptly as possible; by retrieval by hand is a messy and time-consuming operation and, though persons skilled in water sports will always carefully coil such aline and lay it on deck or in the bottom of the boat neatly, there are great numbers of persons today indulging in water sports who do not realize the need for such care and who will haul in such a line hand-over-hand and drop it in a careless snarl in or on the bottom where it becomes, of course, not only a nuisance but an actual danger.

It is highly desirable, therefore, that any craft which is to be used to tow skiers should be provided with a means whereby such a line may be retrieved and automatically stored neatly, safely, and without wetting the occupants of the boat. A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a device which will accomplish those functions and which nevertheless may be relatively inexpensive, small in over-all dimensions and light enough not to overload small craft such as outboard motor boats.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the de scription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of a small power boat with my retriever mounted thereon and showing various positions of the tow rope;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of my retriever mechanism, with the enclosing housing broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof with the housing similarly broken; and

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that I have illustrated a power boat on the transom of which is mounted my retriever mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. In solid lines, I have shown the tow rope 12 extended and in use by a ski rider who is grasping the hand grip device 13 which is carried at the distal end of the rope. In dotted lines, I have also shown the grip device 13 floating on the surface of the water near the boat, in a position to be grasped by a prospective ski rider; and I have also shown the hand grip 13 in the position which it occupies when the tow rope has been fully retrieved.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the mechanism 11 includes a base 14 to which is suitably removably secured a housing 15 which encloses and guards the operating mechanism, said housing being formed with a window 16 in one wall thereof through which the rope 12 may extend.

Within the housing and suitably secured to the base 14 are two upright bearing supports 17 and 18 carrying, respectively, aligned, anti-friction bearings 19 and 20 in which is journalled a shaft 21. Also within the housing 15 and suitably supported from the base 14 or upon the support 18 is an electric motor 22 connected, through gear reduction means 23, to drive the shaft 21.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 21 adjacent the support 17 is a winding drum indicated generally by the reference numeral 24 and comprising a reel 25 and end flanges 26 and 27. Preferably, the external periphery of the drum 24 is guarded by a shield 29 which is bent into a substantially circular form and has its adjacent ends suitably secured to the base 14 or to the foot of the support 17 by means of rivets 30, or the like. Said shield is formed with a window 31 which, when the parts are assembled, will register with the window 16 in the housing 15. As shown, the drum 24 is journalled on the shaft 21 through the medium of an Oilite bearing 32 or the like.

Clutch means indicated generally by the reference numeral 33 is interposed between the shaft 21 and the drum 24. As shown, said clutch means comprises a drive plate 34 and a shell 35 having fingers or prongs 36 penetrating perforations in the flange 27 of the drum 24 whereby said shell is rotationally fixed relative to said drum. The drive plate 34 is rotationally fixed to the shaft 21 through the medium of a key 37; and groups of friction plates 38 and 39 are interposed, respectively, between the drive plate 34 and the flange 27 and between said drive plate and the base of the shell 35. Obviously, when the shell 35 is moved toward the drum 24 sufficiently to compress the friction plate groups, a frictional drive connection between the shaft 21 and the drum 24 will be established; but that connection can be released by movement of the shell 35 away from said drum to release the frictional engagement of the friction plates with the drive plate 34 and with the shell 35.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 21 in axially spaced relation are a first thrust plate 40, a second thrust plate 41 and a third thrust plate 42. The first thrust plate 40 is arranged for operative engagement with the base of the shell 35. A collar 43 having an axially facing shoulder 44 is interposed between the first thrust plate 40 and the second thrust plate 41; and an anti-friction bearing 45, constituting a part of a shifter yoke 46, is mounted on said collar 43 in cooperative engagement with said shoulder 44.

Interposed between the second thrust plate 41 and the third thrust plate 42 is an axially-elongated, annular block 47 of axially-resilient material such as rubber or one of the synthetic rubberoid materials, sleeved on the shaft 21.

Axially adjustable abutment means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 48, is mounted on the shaft 21 to back the third thrust plate 42 and limit movement thereof axially away from the drum 24. As shown, said abutment means comprises a collar 49 rotationally fixed to the shaft 21 by means of a key 50 and bearing, at its left hand end, against a peripheral flange 51 formed on said shaft. Said collar 49 is externally threaded and adjustably carries a nut 52 whose right hand end engages the third thrust plate 42. It will be apparent that, by rotation of the nut 52, the over-all axial length of the abutment 48 may be varied, whereby the limiting position of the third thrust plate 42 may be adjustably determined. The abutment 48 will be so adjusted as axially to compress the sleeve 47, whereby said sleeve will exert upon the shell 35, through the thrust plate 41, the collar a 43 and the thrust plate 40, a clutch-engaging, yieldable pressure.

A solenoid 53 having a reciprocable armature 54 is suitably secured to the base 14 or to the foot of the support 18. A pin 55 stationarily carried at the upper end of the support 18 forms a pivotal mounting for one end of a link 56 to the other end of which is pivotally connected, as at 57, one end of a lever 58, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected as at 59 to the armature 54. Intermediate its ends, the lever 58 is operatively connected to the shifter yoke 46, as at 60.

The proximal end of the rope 12 is anchored to the drum 24. When a skier is to be towed, a switch 62 connected in an energizing circuit for the solenoid 53 to dominate that solenoid, is closed, whereby the armature 54 will be retracted. Thus the lever 58 will be swung in a clockwise direction about its pivotal mounting 57 to force the second thrust plate 41 toward the third thrust plate 42, thereby axially compressing the annulus 47. Thus, the resilient effect of that annulus upon the clutch 33 is overcome to disengage the clutch, freeing the drum 24 for rotation relative to the shaft 21, and a short length of the rope 12 is payed out to allow the hand grip 13 to float on the water at a safe distance from the boat 10. The skier grasps the grip 13 and, with the solenoid 53 still energized, the boat 10 is moved forward. The water, of course, resists movement of the skier and therefore the rope 12 will be payed out, the drum 24 rotating freely on the shaft 21, until the rope is fully extended. Alternatively, and assuming a setting of the abutment 48 which will permit the clutch 33 to slip under the force exerted by the resistance of the water, the switch 62 may be opened to prevent overrun of the drum 24 as the rope is payed out.

When the skier abandons the grip, the switch 61, connected in an energizing circuit for the motor 22 to dominate that motor, is closed. The shaft 21 will thus be driven in a direction to reel in the rope; and if the switch 62 is open at that time, the drum 24 will be rotated with the shaft and the rope will be retrieved. If energization of the motor 22 is continued until the grip 13 strikes the housing 15 adjacent the window 16, or strikes a suitable stop (not shown) mounted on the boat, the clutch 33 will slip until the switch 61 is opened. The gear train 23, of course, will furnish a considerable resistance to rotation of the shaft 21 after the switch 61 is opened; and therefore the grip 13 will be held in its stop position until the switch 62 is again closed,

I claim as my invention:

1. A water ski tow rope retriever, comprising bearing means adapted to be mounted on a boat, a shaft journalled in said bearing means, a winding drum mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto, a disc-type clutch mounted on said shaft and including an element rotationally fixed relative to said shaft, an element rotationally fixed relative to said drum and friction means movable axially of said shaft between an engaged position establishing a driving connection between said shaft and said drum and a released position in which said drum and said shaft are independently rotatable, a first thrust plate, a second thrust plate and a third thrust plate arranged in axially-spaced relation on said shaft, said first thrust plate having an operative connection with said axially-movable friction means, a shifter yoke operatively engaged between said first and second thrust plates, axially-resilient means engaged between said second and third thrust plates, axially-adjustable abutment means engaging said third thrust plate to limit movement thereof away from said second thrust plate, a rotary electric motor connected to drive said shaft, electrically energizable power means connected to said shifter yoke and effective, when energized, to move said second thrust plate toward said third thrust plate, thereby releasing said clutch, switch means dominating said motor, and switch means dominating said power means.

2. The retriever of claim 1 in which said axially-resilient means is a rubberoid, axially-elongated annulus sleeved on said shaft.

3. The retriever of claim 1 in which said electrically energizable power means is a solenoid including a reciprocable armature and in which said armature is connected to said shifter yoke by means of a lever pivoted at one end of said armature, pivoted at its opposite end to a link having an end pivoted on a stationary axis, and operatively connected intermediate its ends to said yoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 932,155 Mather Aug. 24, 1909 950,164 Coates Feb. 22, 1910 1,779,179 MacCarra Oct. 21, 1930 2,111,527 Blane Mar. 15, 1938 3,003,585 Andersson Oct. 10, 1961 3,027,116 Holloway Mar. 27, 1962 3,043,259 Sadler July 10, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 156.429 November 10,, 1964 Harry W. Jones, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 35, for "of" read to Signed and sealed this 13th day of April 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A WATER SKI TOW ROPE RETRIEVER, COMPRISING BEARING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A BOAT, A SHAFT JOURNALLED IN SAID BEARING MEANS, A WINDING DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, A DISC-TYPE CLUTCH MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND INCLUDING AN ELEMENT ROTATIONALLY FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, AN ELEMENT ROTATIONALLY FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID DRUM AND FRICTION MEANS MOVABLE AXIALLY OF SAID SHAFT BETWEEN AN ENGAGED POSITION ESTABLISHING A DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID DRUM AND A RELEASED POSITION IN WHICH SAID DRUM AND SAID SHAFT ARE INDEPENDENTLY ROTATABLE, A FIRST THRUST PLATE, A SECOND THRUST PLATE AND A THIRD THRUST PLATE ARRANGED IN AXIALLY-SPACED RELATION ON SAID SHAFT, SAID FIRST THRUST PLATE HAVING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH SAID AXIALLY-MOVABLE FRICTION MEANS, A SHIFTER YOKE OPERATIVELY ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND THRUST PLATES, AXIALLY-RESILIENT 